Techsperts

I often hear teachers say that they don't have the technical know-how to teach computer skills. I say that you don't have to be the expert! I was thinking today about how old my students are. They were born in 2008, that's 3 years after Youtube was invented and 12 years after the invention of Google. They were born 7 years after the release of the first iPod and the first iPad was released 2 years after they were born. Our students were born into the world of technology whether we like it or not. They are digital natives!
So why not use their expertise?
I was talking to a parent this week about how children just seem to know how to use computers. There are obviously skills that they need to learn and some take longer than others to pick up. The underlying point is that they pick these skills up much faster than adults. So why do we as teachers need to know exactly what to do on every device and in every situation?
I say that we need to employ computer experts. Mine are about 6 years old (some are 7). I have learned that to teach a new skill I can teach small number of my students when I can. These few children are usually one skill ahead of the class (and sometimes me). Once I'm ready to teach the rest I then have support staff on board to help me if I need them. Sometimes I don't know how to do something and I can go and ask my children how to change a background or if they have figured out something exciting they teach me.
This doesn't have to stop at technology, child stuck on a maths problem? Go find a buddy to help you first. If you still don't understand then come to me.
Don't underestimate the children in your class. They are amazing!

Here are my computer experts:

This is some of the the experts in action:

They were the first to complete the presentations below and then heeled the other children in the class finish theirs.